Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A300, A300-600, and A310 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Airbus Model A300, A300-600, and A310 series airplanes, that requires inspecting the bearings located in the mechanical control linkage of the nose landing gear (NLG) free-fall mechanism for discrepancies, replacing any discrepant bearings with stainless steel bearings, and conducting a test to ensure that the NLG free-fall mechanism extends properly. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that, during an operational test of the NLG, the landing gear failed to extend. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the bearings from seizing, which could lead to the loss of NLG free-fall extension capability.